Word Origin & History

porpoise 1309, from O.Fr. porpais (12c.), lit. "pork fish," from porc "pork" (see pork) + peis "fish," from L. piscis "fish." The O.Fr. word is probably a loan-translation of a Gmc. word, cf. M.Du. mereswijn "porpoise" (cf. Mod.Fr. marsouin). Classical L. had a similar name, porculus marinus (in Pliny), and the notion behind the name likely is a fancied resemblance of the snout to that of a pig.

Example Sentences for porpoise

Perhaps, suggested Bell, we might make a ship out of some of the planks of the Porpoise.

But I wonder what the Porpoise was, and what brought her in these seas?

The next business was to move in all the furniture of the Porpoise.

He might as well have tried to get early speed out of a porpoise.

Then we've not much to fear from him; but here he is, puffing like a porpoise.

Can't we build a small boat out of the timber of the Porpoise?

"The men from the Porpoise can't be far off," said the doctor.

Tad made a long, curving dive not unlike that of a porpoise.

I led him to my boat, assisted him in, and returned to the Porpoise.

His skin, like that of the porpoise, is as thin as gold-beaters' leaf.